Tag Archives: Summer

Tender Loving Summer Hair Care

Oh, summer…despite your easygoing and fun-loving ways, you tend to do a real number on our manes. Don’t get us wrong, we’re willing to forgo beauty for some excitement, but that doesn’t mean we’ll go down without a fight.

hair summer

During a season where you not only have to worry about split ends coming from your heat tools but the blazing sun, dryness by way of chlorine-filled pools and those irresistible sea-salted beaches, to newly lightened do’s of bright blonde and warm honey hues changing into not-so-flattering shades of green, to the humidity woes that are weighing us all down, we have but no choice than to seek refuge.

Learn how to win this battle against the sun with these 10 natural summer hair care tips!

 

Protect your head

blond hair hat

Heat protectant spray isn’t used solely when the hot tools are out.  Spritz your hair with it before stepping outside for added protection. Rock a hat or or a stylish scarf to keep your head covered while you’re out and about. This will help maintain moisture in your scalp, fight off UV rays, and help color-treated hair remain intact.

Products: Argan Oil Thermal Shield Heat Protection by ArtNaturals

 

Be gentle

hair on pillow sleep mask

It’s been said that we should treat our hair like silk, and with the added wear and tear from the sun, the time to be ever-so-gentle is now. Skip the towel. Grab an old cotton t-shirt to throw your hair in after your shower. Use a wide-tooth comb for detangling and resist messing with your hair until it’s nearly dry. Wear protective hairstyles to bed, like wrapping your hair in a scarf, to prevent further tangling and frizz and the need to style more. You can switch to silk pillowcases, too.

 

 

Reduce the heat

girl wet hair

Celebrate your natural hair this summer. The season’s breezes are nature’s perfect blowdryer. If you’re headed out, your hair is likely to dry just as fast anyway and without the added damage. No matter what type of texture you have, dry hair always means more frizz and breakage. To combat this, keep added heat at an absolute minimum. Experiment with the many different heatless styles out there, just promise you’ll try to put the flatiron down.

 

Maintain moisture

hair conditioner

From chemicals in the water to triple digit temperatures, our hair is in need of some tender loving care now more than ever. First things first, work with what you already have. Invest in a boar bristle brush. These brushes are best for evenly distributing the natural oils in our hair from root to tip, leaving hair shiny and our scalps happy. Deep condition your hair at least once a week, and invest in a quality leave-in conditioner for severely dry hair. Keep those ends sealed with a quality argan oil.

Products: Boar Bristle Brush by Beauty by Earth; Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioner by ArtNaturals; 100% Pure, Organic Argan Oil by Pura D’or; Unrefined Shea Butter by Better Shea Butter

 

Say goodbye to swimmer’s hair

hair underwater pool

For color-treated hair that goes awry after dipping in the pool, rinse hair with 1:8 parts apple cider vinegar to water for a squeaky clean that will wash away discoloration and revitalize your locks. Coating hair lightly with oil before you step in the water will also prevent deeper penetration of your strands.

Products: Raw, Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar by Bragg

 

Skip washes

While it’s tempting to want to wash your hair everyday in the summer, daily washing throws our scalps’ oil production way out of balance, causing it to overproduce oil to compensate for the lack thereof, creating a vicious cycle of needing to wash it more frequently. Aim for wash-day every 2-3 days. Use talc-free powder or a natural dry shampoo to make hair last in between. Trust us with this one; the awkward adjustment period will pay off.

Products: Dry Shampoo by ACURE Organics

 

Make your own beach waves

summer wave hair

Whether you’re actually sitting oceanside but won’t step foot in the water or are miles away in a corporate office somewhere dreaming up your next island vacation, one thing’s for certain: there’s nothing more crave-worthy than those gorgeous, effortless, ocean-kissed waves this summer. Pull out the sea salt, coconut oil, and conditioner to get this look started. For a fraction of the cost, you can make this homemade sea salt spray.

 

Embrace humidity

silhouette curly hair

I know how this sounds, but it’s crucial in trying to keep your hair right in the summer and goes hand in hand with our last tip. The trick to humidity control is having the right products and smart styling. Dry shampoo works wonders in combating that just-got-out-of-the-shower look and plumps hair back up with volume. Fight nature with nature. Use aloe vera gel in place of traditional hair gel for styling – it’s packed with amino acids, proteins, and vitamins like calcium and potassium. It helps neutralize the scalp, no matter how oily it feels, keeping locks smooth, nourished, and flowy.

Products: Pure Aloe Vera Gel by Aubrey Organics

 

Wear loose, comfortable styles

hair in a braid summer

Use this time to play around with cute, loose up-do hairstyles and braids that require more grit and hold than freshly-washed, perfectly dried hair. Summer is the time to let go of those perfectly sculpted and polished looks, anyway. The more pressure we take off of our scalp, the less we have to deal with annoying side-effects like thinning edges and dandruff.

 

Stay hydrated

water drinking hair

While products are a big help, true beauty radiates from the inside out. Keep a water bottle handy with you whenever you’re on-the-go and be sure to drink half of your body weight in ounces per day. If it’s hard for you to guzzle down that much plain H2O in a day, try infusing your water with fruit, mint, or cucumber for a refreshing treat!

3 Easy Hairstyles to Wear Out the Door

Are there ever really enough hours in a day? If you’re anything like me, you hit snooze on your alarm clock not once, not twice, but an impressive three times each and every morning just to enjoy a few more minutes in that glorious, loving bed of yours. With these full plates that we’re juggling, I think it is safe to say that we’ve grown accustomed to “hitting the ground running” as soon as day breaks. So when push comes to shove, why not find a way to cut some time guzzlers in half by changing a few things in our everyday routines — like mastering a few easy hairstyles?

collage

I’ve got your fix. Enter my three favorite heatless, easy hairstyles that you can wear fresh out of your morning shower to out your front door. Are you a part of the nighttime shower group instead? Don’t worry, you can wear each of these styles to bed with a damp head to get the same results, and wake up ready to go. The criteria for these easy hairstyles are simple: They must be complete in under five minutes, they must cause zero damage to your locks, and they must be versatile enough to wear out in public without getting you a single wide-eyed stare. When you’re ready to let your hair down and get to where you need to be, loose, effortless waves await you!

 

THE 4-STRAND BRAID

1

This 4-strand braid pumps up the volume and is a nice change to the classic 3-strand or French braid. Trust me, this is easier than it looks! Here’s a helpful video tutorial on how to do it.


1. Create a deep part in your hair and move all of your hair to one side.

2. Separate your hair into four equal sections, holding onto to each strand carefully.

3. Starting from the innermost strand, mentally number each strand from one to four (the innermost strand being number one, and the outermost strand being number four).

4. Take the innermost strand (strand number one) and put it over strand number two, under strand number three, and over strand number four.

5. With the outermost strand in hand (strand number four), repeat the same weaving pattern accordingly back to strand number one.

6. Continue weaving through the strands until all of the hair is braided. Secure with an elastic band.

7. Pull on the hair in the finished braid to create a thicker, larger braid.

 

TWISTED TOP-KNOT

2

Bonus: This is a trusted nighttime hairstyling method for keeping the frizz and bedtime kinks away, while leaving your hair full of volume in the morning.

Double-bonus: This is a more polished top-knot bun (no bobby pins used here) that still looks cute and messy AND gives you clean, thick waves.

1. Brush hair thoroughly and smooth all of your hair up to the very top of your head, holding the hair securely with your hand.

2. Holding all of your hair up, go to the very top of it to your ends, and begin tightly twisting the hair.

3. Twist hair down into the shape of a cinnamon roll on the top of your head to create a bun. Secure with a hairband. Tip: The looser the hairband you use, the less noticeable the line in your hair will be once you let it down.

4. Pull gently on your bun for desired texture and shape.

 

HEADBAND WAVES

3

This hairstyle is effortlessly glamorous and reminiscent of something you would see out of the 1920’s. As if that wasn’t enough, this is by far the easiest method of achieving heatless curls sans the irons, flexirods, and rollers. Here’s a video tutorial on how to do it.

1. Place a headband loosely over your head to make the shape of a halo, making sure not to tuck it under your hair as you would with a normal headband.

2. Start by working on one half of your hair first. Grab around a one-inch section of hair (grab more for thicker curls), lift the headband gently off of your head, and tuck the piece of hair into the headband, letting it fall loosely with the rest of the hair.

3. Continue grabbing one-inch sections of hair and tucking it into the headband until that side of your hair is completely tucked into the headband.

4. Repeat this process on the other half of your hair.

5. Securely tuck any left over pieces of hair in the back of your head into the headband.

Once the hair fully dries, the finished product should look something like this:

4

Here’s to getting some time back on our side and major wave-envy from the crowd. Happy styling!

10 Must-Visit Cities for Summer Sweets

 

Nothing is more synonymous with summer than sweets. Twisted soft serve in a cone topped with rainbow sprinkles, shaved iced decked out with handmade syrups, fried rolls full of cool, creamy delights. They may look and taste different depending on where in the world you are but they all have one thing in the common; the ability to put a smile on a face whether you’re 9 or 99.

From Bangkok to New Orleans and everywhere in between we rounded up the desserts of summer you’ll want to travel for.

 

Palawan, Philippines

Hidden off the beaten traveler’s path, Palawan is the stuff of dreams. Small fishing villages, turquoise waters and sandy beaches, jungles full of wildlife. It’s no wonder Travel + Leisure keeps putting Palawan on its must-visit list. And when you’re lounging on the beach you’ll order Halo-Halo. It’s basically everything sweet in a jar. The name actually means “mixed together.” There’s shaved ice, syrup, ice cream, custard and some sweet toppings.

halo-halo
Halo-halo | Photo via lalaine22shoots on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Visit:  Noki Nocs Savory House, Tita Esh

 

Portland, Oregon

It should come as no surprise that America’s locavore capital is serious about its ice cream. Known for food trucks and local brews, Portland has upped its ice cream skills in recent years. You’ll find spots offering up ice cream flights of six tastings for when it’s just impossible to choose between scoops filled with a variety of local ingredients including strawberries and microbrews.

ice cream

Visit: Salty Sow, Ruby’s Jewel.

 

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

With all eyes turned to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games it’s only natural to include the city in a list of must-visit places for summer desserts.  Especially, when you consider that the typical Rio dessert of summer is actually something you can eat for breakfast, lunch or just as a snack. You know it as an açaí bowl, (Açaí na tigela). It’s made of frozen, mashed açaí, served in a bowl or as smoothie and topped with tapioca, or granola and banana.

acai bowl
Acai bowl

Visit: Bibi Sucos

 

New Delhi, India

Apologizes to the ice cream fans but once you’ve had Kulfi you’ll never really be satisfied with your beachside favorite again. India’s version of ice cream is creamy, dense and designed to melt slowly. Grab a cup, mango is one of the most popular flavors, and wander around historic Old Delhi, take in the Jama Masjid Mosque and shop at Chandni Chowk.

Girls having Faluda Kulfi
Girls having Faluda Kulfi

Visit: Kuremal Mahavir Prasad Kulfiwale, Giani

 

New Orleans, Louisiana 

The Crescent City is bursting with history, music and food. So much so, it could take a lifetime to try all of New Orleans’s delights. Bananas Foster was invented here, Antonine’s Baked Alaska is famous, but if you only indulge in one sweet during your trip make it the Sno-Balls. Don’t mistake their traditional dessert of summer as a snow cone.  Sno-balls, are made of shaved ice not crushed or ground, which New Orleanians believe makes the handmade syrup soak in better.

new orleans sno-ball
New Orleans Spearmint Sno Ball with condensed milk | Photo via Aromas on Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Visit: Hansen’s Sno-Bliz.

 

Rome, Italy

Multiple gelato shops on each block make Rome, one of the best cities for something cold and sweet. Denser and more intense than American ice cream you’ll find a gelato flavor for every type of sweet lover in the Italian capital. Stick to the traditional in a cup or opt for something more indulgent like a gelato panini, a warm brioche filled with gelato, or affogato—a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of vanilla gelato–additional shot of coffee liqueur optional, but recommended.

gelato
Case of various gelato flavors

Visit: Ciampini

 

New York, New York

Many turn their back on New York City during the summer choosing sand over sidewalk, but minimal crowds make the summer one of the best times to visit the city that never sleeps.  Especially if you’re a lover of frozen desserts. Want a Blueberry Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich? A Tangerine Granita? What about gelato or the Philippines’s halo-halo? In addition to homegrown ice cream boutiques where you can grab an old-school scoop or a classic sundae, NYC is home to shops serving the world’s hottest dessert trends.

Irish Coffee Milkshake Shot 3
Image courtesy of Vandal

Visit: Vandal, Stanton Social, Patisserie by Francois Payard

 

Bangkok, Thailand

For street food lovers Bangkok is paradise. Around every corner is a new vendor and the food is as unique as the city’s districts. In the green area you’ll find some of the oldest markets selling traditional Thai food while the Victory Monument area has a plethora of modern options. But one thing you’ll find almost everywhere is stir-fried ice cream. As you watch a vendor pours milk onto an ice gold grill, adding in flavors of your choice such as green tea, coffee, chocolate, and fruit and mixing it until rolls form at which point you can add more toppings.

thai woman holding ice cream

Visit: Any vendor selling it that has a line.

 

Paris, France

Much like New York, Paris empties in the summer and while there is never a bad time to visit the City of Light, in the summer you’ll find it a little calmer. It’s the ideal time to wander the streets, take in the sights while window shopping and sample the many many delicious sweets. There’s the ultimate profiterole, an ice cream sandwich with pastry and chocolate sauce, the classic cream puff and of course you can never go wrong with macaroons with ice cream centers.

profiteroles
Profiteroles | Photo via Edward Kimber on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Visit: Profiterole Chéri, Amorino

 

5 Vacation Swaps to Avoid the Crowds this August

Vacationing at the end of the summer can sometimes mean being stuck in a crowd of other August travelers trying to squeeze in a trip before the season is over. Instead of picking a stereotypical summertime hot spot, consider some of these  alternatives that are less crowded with tourists this time of year, including winter destinations that offer discounted deals in the summer months, small cities that lie in the shadows of larger neighboring locales, and spots that are simply too gorgeous to overlook.

Here are five alternatives to popular summer destinations for a unique, uncrowded, and memorable vacation.

 

Popular vacation destination: New York City

Amazing alternative: Providence

If you want to visit the east coast, why not try Rhode Island’s capital? Unlike NYC, Providence is a college town that gets a little quieter as it empties of students during the summer.

Providence Rhode Island skyline.
Providence, Rhode Island skyline.

Known as America’s Renaissance City, Providence is certainly historical, but it is also eclectic with everything a tourist can want. One thing that is for sure is you won’t go hungry during your visit. Not only is it home to Johnson & Wales University, globally recognized as one of the best institutions for culinary arts and whose graduates oftentimes stay in the area to work, but the entire city is a foodie’s dream come true. Downtown is peppered with dining options from pizza places and fast food restaurants to a smorgasbord of diversity in the form of Mexican, Asian, Middle Eastern, European and New American restaurants that are both family and singles-friendly and alive with musical entertainment. And if Italian food is among your favorites, hop over to Federal Hill, the city’s Little Italy.

providence rhode island
Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock.com

As one of the oldest cities in the US (and one of the 13 original colonies), many of the historical landmarks that reflect 19th and 18th century architecture are open to the public for tours. Among these is the John Brown House, a mansion that was once the home of John Brown (a major benefactor of the Ivy League Brown University) and visited by prominent historical figures like George Washington and John Quincy Adams. Providence also boasts cute boutiques, remarkable sculptures and nationally-renowned theaters that showcase a strong performing arts culture.

Castle Hill Lighthouse on Narragansett Bay in Newport, Rhode Island.
Castle Hill Lighthouse on Narragansett Bay in Newport, Rhode Island.

If you want to break your time between sightseeing and the seaside, head to one of the many gorgeous beaches on the nearby Rhode Island and Massachusetts coasts.  Skip over Cape Cod, which is a sardine-can tourist-packed alternative, and try any one of the several little beach-side towns, like Little Compton, that are the area’s lovely little secrets.

Narragansett Beach, Rhode Island.
Narragansett Beach, Rhode Island.

And don’t miss the chance to experience Water Fire, a public event that blends artistic expression with spiritual and community symbolism. During this event, 100 fire lanterns flow along the river through the city’s downtown area. Keep in mind that there are only a couple of these showings in August (it is mostly a fall event), so plan accordingly if you want to enjoy this experience.

 

Popular vacation destination: London

Amazing alternative: Ireland

Are you craving a taste of Europe, but are unsure whether you’re mentally prepared for the crowded August peak vacation season? While droves flock to England, why not head to Ireland? This is the perfect place to go for cool weather, luscious landscapes, thousands of castles, cathedrals, and more charming pubs than you can imagine.

Doonagore castle, Co. Clare, Ireland.
Doonagore castle, Co. Clare, Ireland.

While the well-known cities like Dublin, Galway and Belfast are must-sees, make your trip memorable by adding some unique stops along the way, like the breathtaking 2,000 year old Cliffs of Moher, whose landscape inspired centuries worth of Celtic folklore, myths, legends and witch stories, and where bird watchers and photographers spot over 20 species of seabirds. Or, jump back in time while visiting Kilkenny, home to Ireland’s Medieval Mile, which extends from the 13th-century St. Canice’s cathedral (and its 9th century tower) to the 13th-century Kilkenny castle and 16th century Rothe House and Garden.

Ocean and O'Briens Tower on Cliffs of Moher in Ireland
Ocean and O’Briens Tower on Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.

Known as the Marble city due to the natural limestone that makes up many of the shiny pavements and buildings, Kilkenny is also chock full of pubs, including the Kyteler’s Inn Pub which was originally owned by Alice Kyteler, the woman whose story instigated the first witch trial in Irish history. .

ireland

In addition to immersing you in history, Ireland will also tickle your nerdy side. Do your best impression of a Hogwarts student while visiting the library at Trinity College (and sneak a peek at the Book of Kells), or spend a day acting as a member of your favorite Westeros clan during a Game Of Thrones tour in Belfast and Dublin.

ireland

And the summer is a time riddled with festivals: boat festivals, cultural festivals, horse races and drinking fests are on the agenda throughout the country all season long. Guinness, anyone?

 

Popular vacation destinations: Finland, Norway, Denmark

Amazing alternative: Iceland

Are the Nordic countries on your bucket list? While much of northern Europe is breathtakingly beautiful, few places in the world are as ethereal as Iceland. In fact, parts of the countryside feel so otherworldly that fantasy movies and TV shows are consistently filmed there.

Thingvellir National Park. Southern Iceland
Thingvellir National Park, Southern Iceland.

August is one of the best times to visit and though it’s also the country’s busiest season, the crowds may seem minuscule for tourists from most American or European cities. In Reykjavík, the capital, you can enjoy striking architecture, late-night clubs, and adventurous expeditions through nature, not to mention a diverse assortment of museums. The days are also long and you can expect between 16-18 hours of sunlight to help you see as much as possible.

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, Iceland
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, Iceland.

Unparalleled natural landscapes are the main magnets that attract tourists to Iceland and its three major national parks. To the southeast is the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, a mixture of fresh and salt water covered in chunks of floating ice. These glass mirrors of calm water reflect surroundings that include a painter’s palette of colors from blue and pink skies to black ice and sand, and turquoise glaciers.

Icelandic Ponies
Icelandic Ponies

Then, located 40 km east of Reykjavík, is Thingvellir National Park, the location of the oldest Parliament in the world, as well as one of the only spots where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge can be seen on land. Last, but certainly not least, is the 700,000 year old volcanic site built atop alternating lava and ash, known as Snæfellsjökull National Park. Located on the west coast, Snæfellsjökull is a spot for discovering caves, bird watching, and hiking.

Skyline cityscape of Reykjavik, reflected in lake Tjornin.
Skyline cityscape of Reykjavik, reflected in lake Tjornin.

In Iceland, you can also go swimming in a geothermal beach or the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, check out local festivals, drive around the perimeter of the country on its Ring Road for more photographic opportunities, and ride on Icelandic horses.

Hot spring Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
Hot spring Blue Lagoon in Iceland.

Summer is also the only time the roads open to the Highlands, the center of the country. More glaciers, volcanoes, nature reserves, mountains, deserts and hot springs than you can fathom are all part of the ecosystems in this virtually untouched part of the world.

 

Popular vacation destination: South Florida

Amazing Alternative: Mexico

In a hotspot with over 40 miles of beach lined with turquoise blue waters, the south of Florida is muy caliente (bienvenido a Miami), but don’t overlook the 6,000 miles of coastline in Mexico. The temperatures will scorch, which is why winter is a popular time to visit, but those who can handle the heat may appreciate the reduced airfare, hotel prices and decreased tourism.

Norten beach on colorful Isla Mujeres island near Cancun in Mexico
Norten beach on colorful Isla Mujeres island near Cancun, Mexico.

Cancun will answer the prayers of party-seekers, but in August it also attracts families with thoughts of water parks, day and dinner cruises, and zoos. For a bit more sophistication, visit Playa del Carmen, and those who want to submerge can find one of the best snorkeling and Scuba diving sites in the world in Cozumel.

The lagoon of fresh water just next to Caribbean Sea in ecological park on Cozumel
The lagoon of fresh water just next to Caribbean Sea in ecological park on Cozumel, Mexico.

Then again, maybe snorkeling followed by yoga and exploring old ruins are more your pace? In that case, head to Tulum, which is also among the smallest and quietest beaches on the Mexican coastline. This relaxing little getaway might make you want to curl up on a hammock with a book and is filled with relaxing spas, but don’t overlook the hiking opportunities through Mayan archeological sites.

People swimming in Dos Ojos cenote, located 20 km from Tulum.
People swimming in Dos Ojos cenote, located 20 km from Tulum.

 

Popular vacation destination: Los Angeles

Amazing alternative: San Francisco

California conjures thoughts of summertime, convertibles, surfers’ waves, and beautiful, friendly people, so considering it as the location for your summer vacation is a no-brainer. And while it’s true that Los Angeles is where you will find both the happiest place on Earth and some of the best Mexican food without going to Mexico, the smog and traffic may be enough reason to avoid it and skip right on over to San Francisco.

The Painted Ladies of San Francisco, California.
The Painted Ladies of San Francisco, California.

The Golden Gate City is home to miles of waterfront, beautiful yet underrated beaches, and weather that is much cooler than in its southern counterpart. While it is the most densely-populated city in the state,and the second most densely populated city in the US, the vibe is welcoming and relaxing. Don’t let the jaw-dropping 10,000+ people per square mile make you overlook the countless and assorted neighborhoods that offer distinctive experiences from ritzy hotels and hipster bars to quieter “small town” streets. And no matter which part of the city you choose to visit, bring a camera as there is lots to see. One of the more popular spots is North Beach, the second “Little Italy” on this list, filled with cafes and restaurants. Here you can climb to the top of the 210-foot Coit Tower for panoramic views, picnic on the luscious green Washington Square, and absorb the beauty of the 19th-century Saints Peter and Paul Parish.

View of North Beach and the San Francisco Bay from Coit Tower, in San Francisco, California.
View of North Beach and the San Francisco Bay from Coit Tower, in San Francisco, California.

And don’t forget to enjoy the winding streets over the rolling hills, traversed by bright cable cars, that are as iconic as the Golden Gate Bridge.

Famous Lombard Street in San Francisco at sunrise
Famous Lombard Street in San Francisco at sunrise.

While the Mexican food may not compare to what you can find in LA, the other cuisines are widely known for their excellence and authenticity. Culinary diversity is strong in San Francisco and the area is especially known for delicious Filipino and Caribbean food. You can also find plenty of farmer’s markets (like Ferry Building Marketplace), where locals and tourists enjoy spending their days.

The ABCs of the Caribbean: 3 Islands to Visit this Summer

 

From July to September each summer, the warm waters off the southern tip of Florida drag in hurricanes from the Atlantic and funnel them up into North America, temporarily excluding most of the Caribbean Sea and its famous beaches from savvy travelers’ itineraries. But don’t let the weather rob you of your Caribbean vacation altogether—instead, cast your beach-hungry eyes all the way to the southern edge of the sea, just off the coast of South America, and you’ll find three islands that are too cool for hurricane season.

Sprinkled a handful of miles off South America’s northern edge are the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. All are parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and all are infused with a cultural confluence combining that of their Dutch colonizers with Latin American flavors and a heart that’s pure Papiamentu, as the local Arawak- and West African-descended people refer to their creole language and culture.

With glitzy resorts on Aruba, world-class diving on Bonaire, and a buzzing cultural capital sandwiched between the two on Curaçao, there’s something for any summer traveler on the ABC islands.

 

Alluring Beaches on Aruba

The westernmost of the ABC islands lies just 18 miles off the northern coast of Venezuela, where aquamarine Caribbean water gives way to white sand marching up to multicolored beachfront shops and towering hotels and resorts.

Palm Beach at Aruba
Palm Beach at Aruba.
Natural Bridge Landmark in Aruba.
Natural Bridge Landmark in Aruba.

Aruba’s dry climate and the constant trade wind breeze, keeping the island a nearly unvarying 80 degrees year-round, draws more tourists to its beaches and resorts than any other island in the southern Caribbean. Most itineraries start with seafood and cocktails in the capital, Oranjestad, a popular port of call for Caribbean cruises and the cheapest airport of the ABCs for most visitors arriving from the US. From there, Eagle Beach and its neighbors are among the can’t-miss sandy shores of the southern Caribbean.

eagle beach
Eagle Beach | Photo by Ian Mackenzie via Flickr under CC BY 2.0.
Aruba
Photo by Carl via Flickr under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Aruba’s beaches and the tourist establishments that surround them are a great starting point for those seeking waterborne adventures like windsurfing and diving. For an up-tempo August vacation, catch the annual Aruba International Regatta, three days of quintessential Aruban partying and boat racing.

 

Balmy Island Adventure on Bonaire

Sparsely populated and covered in green as far as the eye can see, Bonaire is a stark contrast to its larger neighboring islands to the west. It’s the smallest and least populous of the ABC islands, giving it a rural, spacious feeling that can be a welcome relief for those coming from the busier and more touristic islands just to its west; and while it’s got the same perfect weather and beautiful beaches as Aruba, the real treasure here is under water.

bonaire diving
Photo by David Stahl via Flickr under CC BY-NC 2.0.

Most tourists will use the capital of Kralendijk, the only major town on the island, as a base for launching their underwater adventures. With some of the most diverse marine life and reefs, Bonaire is home to some of the best diving in the Caribbean, offering experienced divers and first-timers the surreal experience of exploring some of the Caribbean’s best-preserved shipwrecks and coral reefs.

bonaire boats
Kralendijk | Photo by Cliff Hellis via Flickr under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

During your stay on Bonaire, think outdoors: bird watching, mountain biking, and anything involving a wetsuit deserve a spot high on your to do list for the island. While staying on the first 100% sustainable island of the Caribbean, look for a trendy eco-resort that combines some adventure activities with a few nights of rest in environmentally-responsible paradise.

Thousand Steps, Bonaire
Thousand Steps, Bonaire.

 

Cosmopolitan Meets Creole on Curaçao

Centered between Aruba and Bonaire, the largest of the ABC islands is also its cultural hearth: from quirky cuisine to festivals and historical sites, Curaçao has the widest variety of offerings for travelers burnt out on beach bumming and ready for a little stimulation.

Curacao
Bay views in Curacao
curacao handelskade
Photo by Nelo Hotsuma via Flickr () under CC BY 2.0.

The iconic buildings of the Handelskade showcase the cultural confluence that is Curaçao with starkly contrasting rows of distinctly Dutch rowhouses in bright yellows, sky blues, electric greens, and other such bright colors that pop against the backdrop of the turquoise Caribbean sea. The largest city of the ABC islands, it’s home to hip artsy neighborhoods like Pietermaai where urban alternative meets fun in the sun.

curacao market
Curacao Willemstad Market | Photo by Rene Leubert via Flickr under CC BY-NC 2.0.

Explore the touristy Punda district on your way in and head for historic Otrobanda, meaning “Other Side” in Papiamentu, home to cultural attractions like the Kura Hulanda museum, which showcases the island’s own history and its poignant place in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Dine on fish caught in the same waters you were swimming in that same morning, or go for a vegetarian-friendly bowl of cactus-based kadushi, or other Curaçaoan dishes with their heavy Indian, Indonesian, Caribbean, and South American culinary influences.

Queen Emma Bridge in front of the Punda district, is a pontoon bridge across St. Anna Bay
Queen Emma Bridge in front of the Punda district in Curacao.
Curacao
Curacao at dusk

Save your money for shopping downtown and check into one of Curaçao’s favorite hostels, like the Ritz or Hostel La Creole, both of which include a dorm bed and breakfast for as low as $22 a night.

Traveling the Caribbean in hurricane season can still be paradise when done right, but the first step is choosing the right destination. Take your pick of beautiful beaches, unrivaled diving, and the culture and cuisine that defines the southern Caribbean, and escape to the ABCs this summer.

5 Cocktails to Make at Your Summer Soirée

The days are getting long, lazy and hot. The perfect way to cool them down or spice them up is with a summer soirée. The last thing that should happen at your party, however, is you stuck behind a bar. You’re the host, not an on-call mixologist. Enter big batch cocktails. We asked some of our favorite bartenders to share the recipes that top their summer extravaganzas. From a Passion Pom Margarita to a Blueberry Maple Lemonade to a Sparkling Sangria, there’s a festive cocktail for every summer weekend BBQ, beachside bonfire, clambake or whatever else you’re throwing this summer.

 

Passion Pom Margarita

Passion fruit is having a moment. The small, oval, purplish red fruit is the number one flavor of margaritas according to Cassandra Rosen, who creates recipes for Soltado Tequila. And as we all know, margaritas are the ultimate summertime party drink. Rosen combines pomegranates with passion fruit for a cocktail that is chalk full of antioxidants, great for the “red” in your Red, White and Blue Independence Day plans and of course ready to party.

passion pom margarita by Soltado Tequila
Passion Pom Margarita by Soltado Tequila

Serves 8-10 cocktails

What you’ll need

8 oz. Soltado Spicy Añejo Tequila

16 oz. Passion fruit juice (like Ceres)

1/3 cup Fresh Lime Juice

2 tbs. Pomegranate Grenadine Syrup

2- 12 oz. Bottles Dry Ginger Beer

Garnish: Orange Slices and Fresh Mint

 

How it’s done

Mix the first four ingredients in a pitcher, chill overnight. To serve, fill a punch bowl with the passion fruit mixture and stir in ginger beer. Garnish. Serve over ice in mason jars or tall glasses, filled with ice.

 

The Leonardo Punch

Brandy cocktail doesn’t exactly conjure up images of the beach; but brandies actually make a great cocktail base for punches. This Leonardo Punch uses apple juice to balance out the brandy’s heaviness, while the citrus and cardamom give the drink depth and the ginger ale a pop. Make a big batch for that summer bonfire when you’ll be up all night talking around the fire.

The Leonardo Punch
The Leonardo Punch

Serves 6 cocktails

What you’ll need

2oz of lemon sugar

8 1/2 oz of clear apple juice

8 1/2 oz of ginger ale

4 oz of Amaro Lucano

4 oz of Brandy

4 bar spoons of bitter cardamom

citrus slices

 

How it’s done

Place 60 ml of lemon sugar, 250 ml of clear apple juice and 250 ml of ginger ale in a punch bowl. Add 125 ml of Amaro Lucano and 125 ml of Brandy, four bar spoons of bitter cardamom and last add the citrus slices.

 

Sparkling Sangria

Celebrating always calls for something sparkling. And while mimosas may own brunch, they’re not the only bubbly you can toast summer with this year. Simple, yet chic, this sparkling sangria from Arizona’s Salty Sow is basically summer in a glass. Light and refreshing, the effervescent, bright and fragrant elderflower and hints of citrus taste of long, lazy days. Consider it an easy departure from your old brunch standbys.

Sparkling Sangria by Salty Sow
Sparkling Sangria by Salty Sow

Serves 4 cocktails

What you’ll need

8 oz. of Elderflower Liqueur

4 Lemon Slices

4 Orange Slices

4 Grapefruit Slices

1 bottle Sparkling Wine

4 Purple Basil Leaf

Garnish Red and Green grapes

 

How it’s done

In a shaker glass, add liqueur along with fruits, basil and ice, and shake  it. Pour it into a glass and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with red and  green grapes.

 

Blueberry Maple Lemonade

Make summer even sweeter with a fresh maple syrup drink. Omni Hotels & Resorts is celebrating the sweet nectar from the mighty maple tree with maple syrup cocktails, and this Blueberry Maple Lemonades proves maple syrup is not just for breakfast. Made from Tito’s vodka, blueberry puree, fresh lemon and amber maple syrup, you can enjoy nature’s bounty with a bit of booze. The maple adds depth while the lemon cuts through the sugar.

Blueberry Maple Lemonade by Omni Hotels
Blueberry Maple Lemonade by Omni Hotels

Serves 4 cocktails

What you’ll need

6 oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka

4 oz. Lemon Juice

4 oz. Maple Syrup

1 oz Blueberry RE’AL Puree

Garnish: Skewered Blueberries + Lemon Moon

 

How it’s done

Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake moderately and strain into an iced plastic cup. Garnish.

 

Summer Garden

Give your summer soirée a bit of Gatsby era glam with a gin cocktail. No extra work required. Simply throw all the ingredients in a shaker, shake and strain, and full up that pitcher for cocktails even the choosiest flapper would approve. The refreshing finish of the Rutte Celery Gin marries perfectly with lemon grass and ginger tea, creating a cocktail that can stand up to the hottest of days so you can dance the night away.

Summer Garden by Rutte & Zn.
Summer Garden by Rutte & Zn.

Serves 6 cocktails

What you’ll need
2 pints Rutte Celery Dry Gin
2 pints lemongrass ginger tea
2 slices of cucumber
2 mint leaves
1 pint honey water; 2:1 honey to water.
Extra cucumber slices and mint leaves for garnish

 

How it’s done
Shake all ingredients and double strain into a Coupette or Martini glass, or build in a pitcher to share with friends. Garnish with a cucumber slice and mint leaves.

Unique Summer Recipes to Bring to a Party

We have all racked our brains over what to bring to a summer cookout or potluck event. You want to be creative and not have to ask the host what to bring, but if you don’t, you run the risk of showing up with a duplicate dish. Welcome to your cookout nightmare: You arrive to your event and just what you did not want to happen happened – someone else also brought a boring potato salad. Could this get any worse? Absolutely! Your potato salad is not a hit, meanwhile people cannot get enough of the other one.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that are sure to impress so you never have to worry about bringing another boring dish.

 

CALDO DE CAMARON

I bet you didn’t know you were getting a Spanish lesson today! Caldo means soup and camaron means shrimp. This dish is a Mexican shrimp soup served chilled. It’s a perfect dish for hot summer months, but don’t let it fool you – it still packs some heat!

caldo de camaron shrimp soup

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Jumbo shrimp (deveined, cooked and peeled)

vegetable juice

lime juice

lemon juice

1 bundle cilantro

2 red tomato

1 red onion

1 garlic clove

red hot sauce of choice (best with Valentino, Tapatio, or Cholula)

Avocado

 

PREP: chop cilantro, dice tomato, dice onion, finely chop fresh garlic

HOW TO: Use vegetable juice as base; add about 2 oz of lime juice and 3 oz of lemon juice. Add all prepped ingredients including shrimp. Add hot sauce to preferred level of spiciness, and salt or garlic salt to taste. Let chill. Avocado is best sliced and added immediately before serving.  Don’t forget to bring bowls!

 

PINEAPPLE MANGO CEVICHE

You won’t be the only person to show up at the cookout with a dish requiring tortilla chips to dip, however I guarantee you’ll be the only one to show up with this delicious twist to a classic favorite. (You could also make this a simple mango pineapple salsa by just leaving out the seafood.) mango pineapple salsa

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Your choice of seafood (best with shrimp)

1 whole mango

Diced fresh pineapple

1 bundle cilantro

lime juice

lemon juice

red onion

salt

1 jalapeno (optional for added spice)

 

PREP: Cook seafood. Let chill while marinating in lime and lemon juice. Dice mango, red onion, and chop cilantro. If using jalapeño, chop finely.

HOW TO: Once seafood is chilled and marinated combine all other ingredients. When adding pineapple, add about an ounce of pineapple juice, and salt to taste. Keep chilled until served. Best served with plantain chips or tortilla chips.

 

ELOTES SUMMER SALAD

Elotes are Mexican street corn on the cob. With this dish we’re forgetting the cob for ease of serving as a salad.

mexican grilled corn

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Corn on the cob (every 6 serves about 4 people)

Cilantro

crumbled cotija cheese

1/2 garlic clove

2 limes

Tajin seasoning salt

mayonnaise

PREP: Shuck corn, chop cilantro, chop garlic

HOW TO: Grill Corn (you’ll want to see about 15% of each cob grilled to blackened) and remove kernels from cob. Lightly coat with mayo, and begin to mix in garlic, lime juice, and desired amount of Tajin seasoning salt. Top with or mix in crumbled cheese, and garnish with a generous amount of finely chopped cilantro. Serve chilled.

 

CINNAMON SUGAR HUMMUS

Sure, it’s a favorite of many that is sure to make its way through the door at any cookout but is any of the hummus homemade? I’m guessing not, and it’s probably not a dessert hummus, either!

apples cookies dip

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

1 can chickpeas (rinsed and drained)

1 oz lemon juice

1 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp granulated white sugar

3 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 oz olive oil

1 oz water

 

HOW TO: Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth; let chill. That’s it! Best served with apple slices or cinnamon sugar pita chips. Also good as a spread for warm pita bread.

All You Need to Know About 2016 Music Festivals This Season

It’s that time of year again: time to get out your cut off jean shorts, throw on your favorite dancing shoes, and get into your best festival gear. Summer festivals are the highlights of this sunny season we wait so patiently for every year from our winter abodes.

As touring becomes one of the only viable ways for musicians to make a living, more and more music festivals are popping up across the country. Festivals are what draw us out into the exploratory summer season to see who’s who and what’s what and dive into the never-ending hopes of what might happen on the dance floor. Discovering new music and hearing old favorites are what create the ecstatic memories of summer days. Here, we’ve put together some of our favorite festival choices for this summer’s musical lineups.

 

SASQUATCH – May 27th to 30th – The Gorge Washington

Sasquatch has to be the most scenic festival that happens all summer. Held right over the beautiful gorge in Washington State in a natural amphitheater, it is the best backdrop for any artist, and this year their lineup is spectacular. Sasquatch has an eclectic lineup of musicians from hip hop artists like A$AP Rocky, to the electronic tones of Grimes.

 

PITCHFORK – July 15th to 17th – Union Park, Chicago

Following in the footsteps of longstanding festival Lollapalooza, the well-known music blog Pitchfork has been hosting an annual music festival in Chicago. Pitchfork has become famous for being on top of the up and comers in the music biz. During the Pitchfork festival they host a wide range of those artists just hopping on to the main stream scene. Musical acts like FKA Twigs, Porches and Blood Orange are just a few of the varied musicians Pitchfork will be showcasing this year.

 

COACHELLA – April 15th to 17th and 22nd to 24th – Indio, California

Each year the best of the best from the music industry make the trek out to L.A. to catch a glimpse of what’s happening at the forefront on the global and national scene. Because of the crazy crowds I’ve heard its best to try your luck staying out of the festival grounds and hitting the VIP parties in and around Los Angeles You never know who you might find in the city streets.

 

WANDERLUST

Wanderlust festivals occur throughout the summer in various places across the U.S. This is not a music festival, but rather a yoga festival. Wanderlust festivals offer a space to deepen into your personal practice, find other like-minded individuals, and enjoy a high caliber of teachers from all over the world. The music is more of a side note but some of the acts are quite extraordinary.

 

PANORAMA – July 22nd to 24th – Randall’s Island Park, NYC

For the past few years Governor’s Ball festival has been holding down the summer music vibes on Randall’s Island in NYC, but this year Panorama is making its island debut. With headliners like LCD Soundsystem, Kendrick Lamar, and Arcade Fire, I have a feeling it’s going to be an East Coast adventure not to miss.

 

MO POP – July 23rd and 24th – West Riverton Park, Detroit

Detroit is landing more and more on the lips of those talking about artistic movements. It has become a hotspot for a growing art scene, which has sparked a number of festivals in the city, including Mo Pop. This year’s lineup is especially exciting, with many of the headlining acts being musicians I love, yet rarely find on festival flyers. Artists like Father John Misty, Shakey Graves, Glass Animals, The Head and the Heart, M83 and Haim will be sharing their musical styles.

 

SYMBIOSIS – September 22nd to 25th – Woodward Reservoir, California

In the world of West Coast electronic music festivals, Symbiosis is the best. Held just a few weeks after Burning Man, the Symbiosis team brings many of the musicians and art installations from the dessert out to the lake. People engage in a fantasy land of lights, color, sunshine and water for a camping gathering that’s all about the art.

 

Now that we’ve helped you on your merry festival way, get that sunny weather outfit ready and book your tickets to memory-making, music land U.S.A.

10 Songs to Say Farewell to Summer

Summer officially ends later this month so we’ve compiled a list of some of the best songs of the season to ensure you get the most out of what little we have left.

 

 

  1. “This Summer’s Gonna Hurt Like a Motherf*****” by Maroon 5
  2. “California Gurls” by Katy Perry (featuring Snoop Dogg)
  3. “Soak Up the Sun“ by Sheryl Crow
  4. “Feel this Moment” by Pitbull (featuring Christina Aguilera)
  5. “Island in the Sun“ by Weezer
  6. “Steal my Sunshine” by Len
  7. “Cool for the Summer” by Demi Lovato
  8. “Cheerleader” by OMI
  9. “Summer” by Calvin Harris
  10. “Summertime Sadness” by Lana Del Rey